Differences and Similarities between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart.

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Estrela Mountain Dog Versus Hovawart: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Estrela Mountain Dog and for the Hovawart. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Hovawart

Estrela Mountain Dog versus Hovawart: Overview

Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are similar in size. The Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are both large-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Estrela Mountain Dog belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Hovawart belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Estrela Mountain Dog versus Hovawart: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Estrela Mountain Dog to the Hovawart based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Estrela Mountain Dog Hovawart
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 4/5
Life Span 11 to 15 years 10 to 14 years
Easygoing 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Height 24 to 30 inches 23 to 29 inches
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Weight 75 to 130 pounds 55 to 110 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 12.0 years
Average Price $2000 No Data
Price Range $2000 – $2000 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•  No Data

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Estrela Mountain Dog in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Hovawart. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Estrela Mountain Dog is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Hovawart is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Estrela Mountain Dog is a better pet than the Hovawart. So, you should get the Estrela Mountain Dog!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart

    The Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are most similar:

  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart are highly intelligent.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Estrela Mountain Dog versus Hovawart

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart.

    Estrela Mountain Dogs weigh 75 to 130 pounds when fully grown. Estrela Mountain Dogs are 24 to 30 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Hovawarts weigh 55 to 110 pounds when fully grown. Hovawarts are 23 to 29 inches when fully grown.

    Is the Estrela Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Hovawart?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Hovawarts do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Does the Estrela Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Hovawart?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Hovawarts have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: Estrela Mountain Dog vs. Hovawart

    Estrela Mountain Dogs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Hovawarts do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Hovawart?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Hovawarts are very easy to groom.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Hovawart?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs are OK for new dog owners.

    Hovawarts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Estrela Mountain Dog versus Hovawart

    Estrela Mountain Dogs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Hovawarts do not like to be left alone.

    Can Estrela Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Hovawarts Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Hovawarts can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Hovawart?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Hovawarts do not get along well with other dogs.

    Which one drools more, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Hovawart

    Estrela Mountain Dogs drool moderately.

    Hovawarts do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do Estrela Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Hovawarts?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs bark and howl, but not very much.

    Hovawarts are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Estrela Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Hovawarts Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Hovawarts can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Do Estrela Mountain Dogs shed more than Hovawarts?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Hovawarts shed moderately.

    Is the Estrela Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Hovawart?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.

    Hovawarts are not easy to train.

    Are Estrela Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Hovawarts?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Hovawarts are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Estrela Mountain Dogs and Hovawarts?

    Estrela Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Hovawarts get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Estrela Mountain Dog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Estrela Mountain Dog that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Estrela Mountain Dog:

  • Akbash (81 percent match with Estrela Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Hovawart vs Akbash.
  • Dutch Shepherd (75 percent match with Estrela Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Hovawart vs Dutch Shepherd.
  • Pyrenean Mastiff (75 percent match with Estrela Mountain Dog). Here is our comparison of the Hovawart vs Pyrenean Mastiff.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Hovawart

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Hovawart that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Hovawart:

  • Catahoula Leopard Dog (78 percent match with Hovawart). Here is our comparison of the Estrela Mountain Dog vs Catahoula Leopard Dog.
  • Spanish Mastiff (81 percent match with Hovawart). Here is our comparison of the Estrela Mountain Dog vs Spanish Mastiff.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Estrela Mountain Dog and how the Hovawart compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Estrela Mountain Dog and of the Hovawart to other breeds:

    Estrela Mountain Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Estrela Mountain Dog versus Finnish Spitz     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Goldador     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Bouvier des Flandres     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Cesky Terrier     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Belgian Sheepdog     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Lhasapoo     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Puggle     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Standard Poodle     Estrela Mountain Dog versus Shetland Sheepdog     

    Hovawart Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Hovawart versus Fila Brasileiro     Hovawart versus Bordoodle     Hovawart versus Mal Shi     Hovawart versus Portuguese Pointer     Hovawart versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Hovawart versus Mastiff     Hovawart versus Swedish Vallhund     Hovawart versus Mal Shi     Hovawart versus Tibetan Terrier     Hovawart versus Swedish Vallhund     

    Conclusion: Estrela Mountain Dog versus Hovawart. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Hovawart better suits you and your family.